Sports Minister Dale Butler has penned a report to Premier Alex Scott outlining his “anger and extreme disappointment” with Bermuda Football Association's failure to secure hotel rooms for the visiting El Salvadoreans until this Saturday, just a day before the crucial second leg of the World Cup qualifier.

Last week, this newspaper broke the story that the BFA had been unable to book any accommodation for the Island's Central American opponents, despite having known since March that this would be required.

However, the governing body were saved from the potential embarrassment of not being able to honour the fixture this Sunday when space was made available at the Hamilton Princess at the 11th hour.

But rooms are only available from Saturday onwards and with only one day on Bermudian soil to prepare for such an important encounter, the El Salvador contingent could be forgiven for feeling that they have been treated shabbily - a sentiment that Butler clearly shares.

“I am shocked and very, very, very upset with the performance of the BFA on this,” he said.

“At the end of the day, although it is the BFA that suffers locally, internationally their behaviour has stained Bermuda's reputation. This incident will reflect very badly on the Island as a whole and it is this particularly which angers me so much.”

“I have written a report to the Premier,” he continued, “outlining numerous concerns about the way in which the governing body has conducted itself. I cannot overemphasise how disappointed I am with them. There is simply no excuse. I cannot imagine El Salvador or any other nation treating us in this manner.”

When contacted by The Royal Gazette yesterday, BFA president Larry Mussenden declined to comment, saying only that the governing body “is concentrating on nothing else but the game on Sunday”.

It would appear also that soccer's world governing body, FIFA, are not overly concerned about the matter.

The Gazette obtained a copy of a faxed letter sent by FIFA to the BFA regarding the issue, which read:

“Dear Sirs,

With reference to the above mentioned match (Bermuda v El Salvador), we would like to express to you our understanding and our appreciation that this match can be played as originally scheduled on June 20, 2004, in Bermuda.

While thanking you for your effort and cooperation, we send you our best regards.”

The El Salvador squad are due to leave on Friday and will overnight in New York before arriving in Bermuda Saturday lunchtime.

That may leave them only one opportunity to train on the National Sports Centre pitch before Sunday's game.